Luwangpokpa T20 Trophy : Blue Hawk, MPSC cruise to fifth straight victories
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 07 2024: Blue Hawk, Khurai crushed NCA, Ningthoukhong by 9 wickets as MPSC, Manipur Central Jail eked out a narrow 1 run victory against FORCE, Kshetrigao today for their fifth straight victories in the 4th MNCA Luwangpokpa T20 Trophy.

In the Group D match staged today at Khangabok Cherapur Public Ground, Blue Hawk bundled out NCA for 89 runs within 16.5 overs and chased down the target in 10 overs losing only one wicket.

L Sadananda of NCA was unbeaten on highest 34 off 20 balls as NCA ended their innings for 89 all out with Ningombam Jackiechan (2/18), Semson Soibam (2/13) and Becker Roy (2/3) setting up their collapse.

In the chase, Mintu Chandra scored highest 45 before Dijen Naorem 22 not out and Mutum Sudhir Singh 13 not out finished off the chase.

Luwangpokpa T20 Trophy

Meanwhile in the Group C match staged at Moijing Public Ground, MPSC racked up 152 for all wickets down in 19.5 overs after electing to bat first and held FORCE to 151/8 in the chase for the narrow win.

Gelson Thoudam starred with a 50-ball 76 while Sagolshem Sunil 31 and Chingangbam Lokeshwor 17 followed suit to take Blue Hawk to a competitive total of 152 runs.

Md Kabir Ahmed of FORCE enjoyed a four wicket haul (4/23) and Fajirul Haque picked three (3/21) in Blue Hawk innings.

FORCE had a stuttering start losing two wickets within 2 overs.

Wickets continued to tumble in regular intervals and were reduced to 88/5 in 13.3 overs with Soubam Kingson removing top run getter Md Kabir on 30.They slipped further to 125 for 7 in 17.2 overs when Saddam Ahmed Shah was trapped lbw for 24 runs by Sarangthem Shangker.

From needing 28 runs off 16 balls, Sarfaraz and Fajirul Haque managed to reduce the asking rate before Sarfaraz got run out for 5 runs when they needed 6 runs off 4 balls with 2 wickets left in hand.

Despite the effort, they could add 4 runs in the last four deliveries to go down by a run with Fajirul Haque 15 and Najir Ali 1 remaining unbeaten.

At Lairenjam Public Ground, KCDO sealed their second Group A win in by beating IBSA by 11 runs.

KCDO racked up 154/6 after electing to bat first courtesy of Lucky Thokchom 44, Prakash Nandeibam 28, Bikram Phandon 23 and Rosebel Sapal 20 .

Lucky Thokchom (2/20), Mk Amal (2/25) and Ziaur Rahaman (2/29) then helped KCDO restrict IBSA to 143/7 in the chase despite Riyaz M's 36-ball 40 not out.

In another Group C match, AKSDO, Khangabok rode on Laishram Nirash (4/14 in 4 overs) to defeat YPHUC, Lalambung Makhong by 62 runs.

AKSDO, after electing to bat first, racked up 159/7 courtesy of Superjit Moirangthem 42, Akash Laishram 38 and Sanayai Ningthoujam 25 before L Nirash and Rosan Laishram (2/13) forced YPHUC to succumb at 97 in 19 overs.

Ksh Rishi picked two wickets in AKSDO innings before Abdul Kaif 20 and Robinson Sandham 19 proved to be only double digit scorers for the team in the chase.

Meanwhile, TCMDC thrashed SU by 6 wickets at Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium for their fourth win in 6 matches.

SU added 129/8 after opting to bat first on the back of Kennedy Karam 43 and Rahul RK 28 before TCMDC chased down the target in 19.1 overs with 6 wickets left to spare as Kongbrailatpam Kalyan scored a 36-ball 52 and Sarangthem Priyobrata added 28 .

Priyobrata who picked four wickets for 21 runs and added 28 runs was adjudged man of the match.

Yesterday, RCA pulled off their fourth win in five Group A matches by beating NAPSA by 4 wickets.

In Group B matches, YWC thrashed THAU by 8 wickets for the fourth win in five matches asn PCC crushed MPA by 122 runs for fourth win on the trot.

In a Group C match, YAC beat KIYC by 83 runs as KASC got a Group D walkover win over OSCAR.